Paper-feeding machine.



T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION 'FILED OCT. 16. 1913.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. 1913.

11 61 mm, Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

N FILED 0CT.16, I913.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

mm w

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. l9|3v 6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1913,

6 SHEETS SHEET 5- Patented Nov. 23, 1

H 9 1 1 9 MM.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED oct. 16, m3,

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

EmmiNH TALBOT C. DEXTER, 0F PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTERFOLDER COMPANY, OF PEAR-L RIVER, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PAPER-"FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ra'tent.

Application filed October 16, 1913. Serial No. 795,486.

1/ 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Tanno'r C. Dnxrnmacitizen of the United States. and resident of Pearl River, county ofRockland, State of New York, have invented certain'new and usefulImprovements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a fulland clear specification. i This invention relates to feeding machines inwhich provision is made for varying the diration of the period ofactivity of sheet-feeding means such as sheet-combing instrumentaliti-eswhich are periodicall y moved into andout of engagement With the topsheet of a pile of sheets which are to be fedby the machine. Suchsheet-combing instrumentalities are adapted to impart simultaneousfeeding movements of different magnitudes toa plurality of sheets of apile, the uppermost sheet being subject to the greatest displacement,and those underlying it being displaced in successively lesseningamounts. lnthis manner; an eflicicnt separation of the sheets iseffected.

It is customary in machines of this character to provide asheet-actuated device for terminating the action of the sheet-combingdevices, an example of such a device being shown and described in PatentNo. 1,098,279 granted to (leorge A. Martin May 26th, 191+.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved meansfor regulating the sheet-feeding action. Toward the attainment of thisobject. my invention contemplates the provision of simple and cliicientmeans for regulating the pressure exerted by the tail drag to make suchpressure correspond with the conditions surrounding the sheet-combing orother sheetfeeding instrumcntality. 'lhus should the period of activityof the sheet-combing instrumcntality be prolonged unduly in eli'ectingthe desired arrangement of the sheets the apparatus will o wrateautomatically to reduce the pressure exerted by the tail drag and thesheet-con'ibing action will thus be facilitated. Such automaticreduction of pressure to facilitate the feeding action, may produce thedesired effect entirely within a single period of activity of the sheetcombing. mechanism thus-preventing a miss in the sheet feeding o'icration. or. if the movement of a sheet is delayed to such an extentthat a miss feed cannot be avoided,

the sheet will be fed off during the following combing period since thereduced pressure will continue in effect during the said followingperiod of combin i Other objects of invention will appear.in thespecification and be pointed out in the appended claims. reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings which exemplify my invention.

In the drawings. Figure 1 is a top plan view of a feeding machineembodying my improvements: Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top planview of the same. parts being broken away and parts shown in section;Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same: Fig. 4 is a vertical section onan enlarged scale of the forward portion of said feedmg machine; Fig. 5is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3, the. parts being shown in changedpositions: Fig. 6 is a similar side elevation showing some of the partsin still other positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which show the preferredembodiment of my invention. within the side frames 1 (see Fig. 1) isjournaled a shaft 2. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 2, are the sleeves3 which are spaced laterally and serve to carry the lever arms 4. withinthe outer ends of which are journaled the combing wheel shafts 5. Keyedto these shafts are spaced combing wheels 6 which constitute in thepresent embodiment of my invention, sheet-feeding instrumentalitieswhich are adapted to be periodically moved into and out of contact withthe top sheet of a pile P. Sprocket chains 7 are provided fortransmitting power from sprocket wheels keyed to the shaft 2 tosprockets mounted on the shafts 5, the combing wheels 6 being therebyadapted to be rotated continuously during the rise and fall of the leverarms 4. which carry them to and from the pile of sheets. As shown inFig. l. the combing wheels 6 are spaced laterally with reference to thepile of sheets, so that as the sheet is fed forward thereby to the frontgages (not shown on the drawings) their periods of activity will servetoadvance either cdgc more or less with respect to the other edge tobring about a proper register of the sheet. For this purpose. each edgeof the paper combing devices is provided with suitable sheet-actuatedmeans for controlling lhc duration of the period of activity of suchdcjournaled at one end in a cam 12 and has its other end journaled in asupport (not shown), keyed to a sleeve 13 which rotates freely upon theshaft 8. The 'cam 12 is also keyed to the sleeve 13 so that whenever thepawl 10 engages the segmental ratchet 9, the cam 12 is caused to rotate.Running upon the cam surface of the cam 12, is a roller 14 which isjournaled upon a pin 15, carried by the lever arm 16, said lever armbeing keyed to the sleeve 3, which carries the lever arms 4. Dependingfrom the oscillatory the combin wise oscillation o shaft 11, is apendulum 17, there being one of these pendulums for each sheet-feedinginstrumentali'ty. In consequence, whenthe free edge of the top sheet onthe pile reaches the pendulum 17, the pawl 10 is thrown into engagementwiththe ratchet 9, the result being that durin the next counter-clocktheshaft 8, the cam 12 displaces lever arm 16 and serves to elevate wheel 6on that side. After both pendu ums 17 have thus been actuated,

the sheet is ready to be fed off by any suitable drop roller mechanismor similar device. During the time which the sheet is being fed from thepile the cam 18 which is keyed to the cam shaft 19 acts on a cam' roller20 carried by the lever arm 21, which is also keyed to the sleeve 3.

' Referring now to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, keyed to the cam shaft 19 on eachside of the machine is another cam 22 which cooperates with a cam roller23 carried by the upper arm of a cam lever 24, which is pivoted on a rod25. The lower arm of the cam lever 24 carries a laterally projecting pin26 which operates in a slot 27 in one end of a connecting rod 28. Theother end of said connecting rod is pivotally connected at 29 with theforward end of an operating bar 30 which is reciprocably mounted in abracket 31 which depends from each side frame 1. The rear end of theoperating 'bar 30 on each side carries an upright 32 within which isthreaded a bolt 33 with its head extending forwardly to adapt. it atcertain times to engage a roller 34 carried by the outer end of a leverarm 35. Lever arm 35 is keyed to a rock shaft 36. Keyed to the same rockshaft 36 is another operating arm 37 to which is pivoted one end of acam bar 38. The other end of each cam bar 38 is pivotally connected at39 with an arm 40 which is pivoted on a rod or stud 41 carried by thelower end of a depending bracket is transmitted to the presser foot.

arm 42 which is mounted on each side rail 43. Also mounted upon therails 43 are collars 44 within which are mounted the oppositev ends of atie rod 53 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Journaled on this tie rod on each sideof the machine is a sleeve 54. Keyed to each sleeve 54 is an oscillatorylever arm 55 to the outer end of which a pawl 57 is pivoted at 56 (seeFig. 5), said pawl being adapted to engage the ratchet teeth on a rod51, which is slidably mounted in the outer end of the lever arm 55.Depending from the tie rod 53 are laterally spaced brackets 45 whichserve to support a rod 47. Journaled on the rod 47 below the hub portionof the lever arm 55 is the shank portion 48 of a presser-foot or taildrag 49, which is pivoted at 50 to the shank 48. The ratchet rod 51 hasits lower end pivoted at 52 to the shank 48 so that any pressure whichis exerted by the pawl on the rod 51 At the same time whenever the pawl57 is raised, the presser foot does not partake of its upward movement.The lever arm is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion 58. towhich is pivoted at 59, the upper end of a spring rod 60 which slides inthe lug 46 under the action of a spring 61. An ad ju'stable tensiondevice 85 which is mounted on the rod 47 adjacent each of the shanks 48,exerts a downward pressure on said shank and the presser foot carriedthereby and under normal running conditions this pressure is augmentedby the pressure due to a spring 61 to be referred to presently. Alsokeyed to the sleeve 54, is the hub 62 of a cam arm 63', the outer end ofsaid cam arm being provided with a cam roller 64 which is adapted tocoiiperate with the cam bar 38, as the occasions arise for varying thepressure exerted by the presser foot 49. A depending projection 65 haspivoted thereto at 66, one end of a spring rod 67 which extends throughan aperture in the offset end of a support 68 which is readily securedto the side frame 1. A suitable spring 69 serves to impart a yieldablepressure to the operating bar 30 so that the device which positivelyengages the bar 30 to render it inoperative can be made readilyeffective by the following sto lever mechanism. Pivoted upon a pin 0which projects laterally from the bracket 31, is a stop lever 71 whichacts as a dog to engage in a notch 72 in the upper edge of the operatingbar'30. The other end oflthe dog 71 is rovided with a in 73 which runsin the slot 74 in the lower end of a link 75, the upper end of said linkbeing pivotally connected at 76 to one of the radial arms 4. which carrythe combing wheel shaft Suitable and etlicientmeans for returning thecam bar 33 to its normal inoperative position after it has been moved bythe opcrating bar 30, may be provided as follows. A cam 77 which iskeyed to the cam shaft 19, cooperates with a cam roller 7 8 on the upperarm of a cam lever 79 which is also pivoted on the pin or rod .25. Thelower arm of the cam lever 79 has pivoted thereto one end of theresetting bar 80, said resetting bar being adapted to rideon a roller 81which is journaled upon the inner lateral face of the operating bar 30.The rear-v wardly projecting end of the resetting bar 80 is providedwith an upwardly deflected portion 32 and a horizontal portion 83 whichis recessed at 84 to form a shoulder 84 which is adapted to strike thestud 34 upon which roller 34 is journaled, when the resetting bar 80 isin lowere-d position. After the cam bar 38 has been moved into operativeposition as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pressure due to spring 69 tendsto retain it there until shoulder 84' strikes the stud 34to return thecam bar 38 to lowered position.

The operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described will now bereadily understood.

It will be evident that each of the combing wheels 6 will be positively.retained in elevated position during suchtimes that the roller 20travels on the outer run of cam18 and that they will be permitted tooperate upon the bank of sheets while said roller 20 travels over theinner run of cam 18, provided that the top sheet does not in, themeantime actuate the pendulum 17 and cause the combing wheels to belifted.

During the normal working of the sheetcombing instrumentalities, if thesheets are being presented at suitable intervals, the pressure exertedby the presser foot 49 will remain substantially constant under theresilient action of the adjustable tension device 85 as well as theadditional pressure due to spring 61. Under these conditions, thecombing wheels 6 will be raised at such intervals relatively to thetiming of the cam 22 that the dog 71 will d'op into engagement with thenotch 72 pri r to the forward movement of the operating bar 30 under theaction of the spring 69, thus preventing the forward movement of saidbar which would otherwise be permitted by the cam roller 23 on the camlever 24 reaching its inner course on the cam 22. When, however, theduration of the period of activity of the combing wheel 6 is prolongedby reason of the difficulty met with in securing the necessary spacingof the forward edges of the sheets, the upward movement of the combingwheel 6 is delayed until after the cam roller 23 has moved inwardly andpermitted the operating bar 30 to move toward the right under the actionof spring 69. In consequence, the bolt 33 engages the roller 34 carriedby the lever arm 35 and imparts a taneous return movement of the bars 30and v pressure-reducing position until it is auto matically returned tonormal inoperative position. By an inspection of Figs. 3, 5, and 6', itwill be noted that cam rollers'23 and 78 will mount to the outer runs ofcams 22 and 77 respectively at about the same instant. From Fig. 3, itwill be seen that the for ward movement of. the bar 30 will draw the camroller 81-(see also Fig. 2) farther under the reset lever causing therear end thereof to be elevated as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Inconsequence, upon the simul- 80, the shoulder 84 will be above the stud34; so that the cam bar 38 is permitted to remain in elevated position.If under these conditions the movement of the sheets becomes too free,the timing of the upward movements of the combing wheels willautomatically occasion the dog 71 to again engage with the notch 72,thereby locking the operating bar 30. As a result the reset bar 80 willbe lowered on its next forward movement and upon its next returnmovement, the shoulder 84 will engage the stud 34' and return the cambar to inoperative position shown in Fig. 3. As a consequence, theeasing up in pressure for one sheet will be sustained for succeedingsheets unless the movements become so free as to again auto.- maticallylock the operating bar 30. On the other hand it will be seen by aninspection of Fig. 3 that the cam roller 23 reaches the inner run of cam22 considerably ahead of the arrival of the cam roller 20 on the outerrunof cam 18. .It may easily happen therefore that after the delayedmovement of a sheet has caused the operating bar 30 to relieve thepressure on tail drag 49, its subsequent accelerated movement brings itinto proper registry to be delivered prior to the action of-cam 18 whichlifts the combing wheel 6. i I claim: p 1. In a feeding machine, thecombination of sheet-feeding means, sheet-actuated means for determiningthe period of activity of said sheet-feeding means, a tail drag, andmeans governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying the pressureexerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed,the governing action of said sheet-actuated means being transmitted bysaid sheet-feeding means, to said pressure varying means.

' 2; In a feeding machine, the combinatlon f 1 sheet feeding means,sheet actuated means for determining the period of activity of saidsheet-feeding means, a tail drag,

' p and means governed by said sheet-actuated means for varying thepressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from wh ch sheetscarebeing fed, said tail drag being proyided with a pressure foot and meansfor said 1 tail drag upon the pile from which sheets are being fed, saidsheet-feeding means being moved into and out of engagement with the topsheet of a pile under the control of said sheet-actuated means, saidpressure-varying means being dependent upon the movement of saidsheet-feeding means; Y

4. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheetfeeding means,sheet-actuated means'for determining the period of activity of saidsheet-feeding means,-a tail drag, and means governed by saidsheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail dragupon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure-varyingmeans including mechanism for reducing I the pressure of said drag uponthe pile and means operated by said sheet-feeding means for renderingthe pressure-reducing mechanism inoperative.

5. Ina feeding-machine, the combination of sheetfeeding means,sheetactuated means for determining the period of activity of saidsheet-feeding means, a tail drag,

and means governed by said sheet-actuated .means for varying thepressure exerted by said tail drag upon the pile from which sheets arebeing fed, said pressure-varying means including a part suitably mountedand connected up with said tail drag to reduce the pressure exertedthereby upon the pile and another part operated by said sheetfeedingmeans for rendering the first said part inoperative.

6. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet-feeding means,sheet-actuated means for determining the period of activity of saidsheet-feeding means, a tail drag, and means governed by saidsheet-actuated meansfor varying the pressure exerted by said tail dragupon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure-varyingmeans including a part suitably mounted and connected up with said taildrag to reduce the pressure exerted thereby upon the pile and anotherpart operated by said sheetfeeding means for rendering the first sadpart inoperative, said other part being suitably connected to saidsheet-feeding means to partake of its movement to and from the top sheetof the pile and adapted to engage the first said part.

'7. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet feeding means, sheetactuated means for determining the period of activity of saidsheet-feeding means, a tail drag, and means governed by saidsheet-actuated means for varying the pressure exerted by said tail dragupon the pile from which sheets are being fed, said pressure varyingmeans including a part suitably mounted and connected up with said taildrag to re-' duce the pressure exerted thereby upon the pile and anotherpart operated by said sheetfeeding means for rendering the first saidpart inoperative, said other part being suitably connected to said,sheet-feeding means to partake of its movement to and from the top sheetof the pile and adapted to engage the first said part, the first saidpart being -provided with yieldable means for imparting the pressurereducing movements to said automatically operated means and saidotherpart being adapted to block the movement of the first said part.

8. In a paper feeding machine, the combination with automaticallycontrolled sheetseparating devices, said devices being adapted to impartsimultaneous feeding movements of different magnitudes to a plurality ofsheets, automatically adjustable means for constraining the, movementsof said sheets, and means for adjusting the effect of saidsheet-constraining means, said adjusting a means being adapted toautomatically 1ncrease the sheet-constraining effect under a relativelyshort period of activity of said sheet-separating devices and todecrease such sheet-constraining eflect under a relatively long periodof activity of said sheet-separating devices.

9. In a feedingmachine, the combination with a tail drag, of yieldablemeans for pressing said tail drag upon the top sheet of a pile, meansfor varying the pressure exerted by said yieldable means, sheet-feedingmeans movable into and out of engagement with the top sheet of a pile ofsheets to be fed, means for connecting said sheet-feeding means to saidpressure-varying means, said connecting means being adapted to operatesaid pressure-varying means to reduce the pressure exerted by said taildrag \vhenthe period of activity of the sheet-feeding means isrelatively long, and sheet-actuated means for determining the durationof the period of activity of said sheet-feeding means.

10. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combinginstrumentality, means for moving it into and out of engagement withthe. top sheet of a pile, sheet: actuated means for determining theduration. of the period of activity of said sheetcombinginstrumentality, a tail drag, yieldable pressure-exerting. means forpressing the tail drag down onto the pile of sheets, and means under thecontrol of said sheetactuated means for modifying the pressure exertedby said pressure-exerting means to correspond with the period ofactivity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, said tail drag includinga pressure foot pivotally mounted and under the action of saidpressure-exerting means, said pressure-exerting means including aresiliently mounted lever, and means for adjustably connecting saidlever to said pressure foot.

11. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combinginstrumentality,

means for moving it into and out of engage-- ment with the top sheet ofa pile, sheet-actuated means for determining the duration of the periodof activity of said sheet-combing instrumentahty; a tail drag, yieldablepressure-exerting means for pressing the tail drag down onto the pile ofsheets, and means under the control of said sheet-actuated means formodifying the pressure exerted by said pressure-exerting means tocorrespond with the period of activity of said sheet-combinginstrumentality, said tail drag including a pressure foot pivotallymounted and under the action of said pressure-exerting means, saidpressure-exerting means including a resiliently mounted lever, and meansfor adjustably connecting said lever to said pressure foot, saidadjustable connecting means comprising a rod having one end pivotallyconnected to said pressure foot, said rod being provided with ratchetteeth, and apawl pivotally mounted on said lever and cooperating withsaid ratchet teeth.

12. In a feeding machine, the combination, of a sheet-combinginstrumentality, means for moving-it into and out of engagement with thetop sheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for determining theduration ofthe period of activity of said sheet-combing instrumentality, a taildrag, yieldable pressure-exerting means for pressing .the tail drag downonto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of saidsheet-actuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by saidpressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity ofsaid sheet-combing instrumentality, said pressure-modifying meansincluding a bar which is movable into'and out of engagement with a partof said pressure-exerting means, a power-transmitting bar whichtransmits power to the first said bar under a predetermined period ofactivity of said sheet-combing instrumentality and a device under thecontrol of said sheet-actuated means which controls the activities ofsaid "power-transmittingbar. i

, 13. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combinginstrumentality, means for moving it into and out of engagement with thetop sheet of a pile,'sheetactuated means for determining the duration ofthe period of activity of said sheet-combing inmitting bar, yieldablemeans for driving a said bar, and means under the control of saidsheet-actuated means for blocking the movement of said powertransmitting bar.

14:. In a feeding machine, the combination oi a sheet-combing'instrumentality, means or moving it into and out of engagement with thetop sheet of a pile, sheetactuated means for determining the duration ofthe period of activity of said sheetcombing instrumentality,'a taildrag, yieldable pressure-enerting means for pressing the tail drag downonto the pile of sheets, and means under the control of saidsheetactuated means for modifying the pressure exerted by saidpressure-exerting means to correspond with the period of activity ofsaid sheet-combing instrumentality, said pressure-modifying meansincluding a power transmitting bar, yieldable means for driving saidbar, and meansunder the control of said sheet-actuated means-forblocking the movement of said power-transmitting bar, said blockingmeans including a lever movable into and out of locking engagement withsaid power-transmitting bar, and a link for connecting said lever withthe sheet-combing instrumentality to .partake of the rise and fallthereof.

15. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combinginstrumentality, adapted to move into and out of engagement with the topsheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for controlling the period ofactivity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting bar reciprocablymounted under resilient pressure, a tail drag under normally constantpressure, a cam bar adapted to be moved into and out of position forreducing the pressure exerted by said taildrag, means adapted to deliverpower from said power transmitting bar to said cam bar, a pivotallymounted lever adapted to engage said ower-transmitting bar and a linkconnectmg said lever to said sheet-combing instrumentality to partake ofthe rising and fall-' ing movements thereof.

v 16. In a feeding machine, the combina-' tion of a sheet-combinginstrumentality adapted to move into and out of engagement with the topsheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means for controlling the period ofactivity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting barreciprocably'mounted under re.

silient' pressure, means for reciprocating said bar, a tail drag undernormally constant pressure, a cam bar adapted to be moved into and outof position for reducing the pressure exerted by said-tail drag,

meansadapted to deliver power from said power transmitting bar to saidcam bar, a pivotally mounted lever adapted to engage saidpower-transmitting bar, and a link .con-

7 necti ng said lever to said sheet-combing instrumentality to partakeof the rising and falling movement thereof, said means comprising acrock shaft, a lever arm carried thereby and connected to said cam bar,and a second lever arm carried by said rock shaft in position to beengaged by said powertransmitting bar adjacent one end of its movement.

17. In a feeding machine, the combination of a sheet-combinginstrumentality adapted to move into and out of engagement (with the topsheet of a pile, sheet-actuated means forcontrolling the periodofactivity of said instrumentality, a power-transmitting barreciprocably mounted under resilient pressure, means for reciprocatingsaid bar, a tail drag under normally constant pressure, a cam baradapted to be moved into and out of position for reducing the pressureexerted by said tail drag, means adapted to deliver power from saidpower transmitting bar to said cam bar,.a pivot- -ally mounted leveradapted to engage said power-transmitting bar, a link connecting saidlever to sald sheet-combing mstrumentality to partake of the rising andfallin movements thereof, and a reset bar adapte to return said cam barto normal inoperative position. i

1,8. In a paper feeding machine, the combination with automaticallycontrolled sheet combingdevices, tail drags operating upon the rear ofabank of sheets, and normally inoperative means controlled by theinterval 20. In a feeding machine, the combination of sheet-feedingmeans adapted to be in active operation on the top sheet of a pile for apredetermined period of time, sheetactuated means for terminating theoperation of said sheet-feeding means before the expiration of suchpredetermined period, a tail drag, means for varying the pressureexerted by said tail drag to regulate the velocity of said sheet underthe action of said sheet-feeding means, and means operated by thesheet-feeding means under a normal period of activity for rendering thepressurevarying means inoperative.

TALBOT o. DEXTER.

Witnesses:

WVM. A. COURTLAND, WM. E. Kxierrr.

